International Conference on Plasma Sciences

ICOPS2020 will be hosting a Young Professionals Networking Symposium (YPNS@ICOPS2020) on December 8, 2020 (Tuesday) from 6:30 – 8:00 pm . The theme for the YPNS@ICOPS2020 is "Plasma Entrepreneurship – Active translation of cutting-edge research to commercially viable products".

The YPNS@ICOPS2020 will provide an avenue for Young Professionals to understand and engage in meaningful dialogues with entrepreneurs, business owners and stakeholders. It will provide a holistic overview of the conventional challenges that tech-based start-ups face and how they can be addressed significantly. The YPNS@ICOPS2020 will also provide insights into what stakeholders typically look out for in their provision of support mechanisms to promising companies and enterprises. The YPNS@ICOPS2020, tentatively, will comprise of three consecutive activities with drinks and hors d’oeuvre being served to encourage active engagement in a casual setting.

1. Plasma Start-up/Enterprise presentation – Building an ecosystem for R&D and business
   

   In this segment, an International panel made up of representatives from companies that develop, and market plasma-related technologies/services will provide a concise overview of their companies, with a focus on the commercialization effort, and the challenges associated in bringing a product to the market. Presenters will also be given the opportunity to speak about their origins of their product line, and how they aim to bridge and further working relations with research entities within Universities and relevant institutes.

   Target group of presenters: Representatives from plasma-technology driven companies, start-ups, and industries at various phases (To be updated later with confirmed speakers)

   Proposed duration: 30 minutes - Presenters will be given 10 minutes for their presentations.

   Contact marklimjw@ntu.edu.sg should you/your company be interested in being represented at this session

2. Providing support for industrial translation in R&D – What are stakeholders looking out for?
   

   In this segment, representation from funding agencies/VCs and institutional supporters will be given the opportunity to speak on key traits that they typically look out for in a company that may be of interest to them. Institutional supporters will be able to showcase how support mechanisms are in place to assist typical “deep tech-based” hardware start-ups to navigate the “valleys of deaths” in moving systems up the TRL ladder towards the commercial market. Important discussion topics may include IP creation and protection, equity distribution and funding stages, as well as other legal and administrative matters pertaining to running and sustaining a business.

   Target group of presenters: Representatives from “deep-tech” VCs and organizations providing support mechanisms for early phase companies and entrepreneurs (To be updated later with confirmed speakers)

   Proposed duration: 20 minutes

   Contact marklimjw@ntu.edu.sg should you/your organization be interested in being represented at this session

3. Panel discussion
   

   In this segment, opportunities for the audience and the panel members will be provided to engage in meaningful dialogue to ensure that attendees are able to have an unprecedented view on industry demand, stakeholder expectations, challenges and solutions, and strategic ways to rapidly bring a product/idea to the market.

   Target group of presenters: All presenters from the previous segments – With a panel moderator, and active participation from the audience

   Proposed duration: 25 minutes

Tentative Schedule for YPNS@ICOPS2020 (December 8, 2020)